Warner Bros. Pictures has attached reknowned comic book writer Geoff Johns, alongside Bill Birch, to write “Shazam!”, the big-screen adaptation of the DC Comics character Captain Marvel, the young boy who calls on the magic word “Shazam,” then name of the benevolent wizard who gives him his powers, to summon ancient magics and become the adult superhero known as Captain Marvel. Peter Segal (“Get Smart”) is on-board to direct and produce alongside Michael Ewing. Johns, who is also attached to write a “Flash” movie, will also consult on the project. Stay tuned to Shockya.com for more “Shazam!” news right here at Shockya.com. By Costa Koutsoutis (Source: Variety.com)

Screenwriter John August has been attached to the big-screen adaptation of the cult graphic novel “Preacher” from DC Vertigo, according to a report by The Hollywood Reporter. August, who was also attached to the adaptation of the DC Captain Marvel/Shazam adaptation that he lamented about in his blog two weeks ago, is also attached to the Tim Burton/Disney title “Frankenweenie” according to the report. The road to live-action adaptation for “Preacher” goes back to 1998, the closest so far being a 2006 announcement by HBO to begin a live-action series based on the comic. Columbia bought the rights to the title in October 2008 and director Sam Mendes (“Jarhead”, “Revolutionary…

Despite screenwriter John August saying that the DC Comics’ Captain Marvel movie “['Shazam!'] won’t be happening,” in a lengthy blog statement a week ago, that statement has been contradicted by the project’s producer, Michael Uslan. Uslan himself told MTV News “I will only say one thing – and all I will do is quote Samuel Clemens to you, [...] This is direct from Captain Marvel himself: ‘The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.’” The Captain Marvel/Shazam film, which was also referred to as “Billy Batson and the Legend of Shazam”, initially made geek waves at the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con International, with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s announcement that…

According to Variety, “Get Smart” director Peter Segal and his production partner Michael Ewing have been booked by Warner Bros to a three-year first-look deal at the studio, and one of the aspects of the deal has been the acquisition of the John August-scripted “Captain Marvel”. Segal will be directing the DC Comics adaptation. He and Ewing began working on the film two years ago, but the property has moved over to Warner Bros. The movie tells the story of teenaged Billy Batson, who transforms into the superhero Captain Marvel when he says the word “Shazam!” It’s been widely reported that the film will be an origin story for Captain…